Town Council Approves Hiring Of Building Inspector, Update Given On Tivoli Rehabilitation

Owen Preservations Requests Permission To Hold New Festival

by Michael Stanley

Staff Writer

A 2-1 vote Monday night by the three-member Spencer Town Council signaled the official hiring of Bob Bandy as the new town and county building inspector.

Bandy, who held the position of building inspector for the Town of Spencer from mid-2008 until January 2012, has served in the inspector’s capacity for both the town and county since the resignation of Billy Roberts in April of this year.

While the hiring of Bandy received unanimous approval from the Owen County Board of Commissioners earlier in the day, Monday night’s town council vote saw Cynthia Hyde and Dean Bruce vote in favor of hiring Bandy and councilman Jon Stantz vote against the motion.

In additional business related to an ongoing building project in Spencer, the council was visited by Cook Group Chief Architect George Ridgway who discussed plans for the Tivoli Theatre building.

Ridgway provided the board with drawings of floor plans for the building and requested that with no vacation of a north-bordering alleyway, Owen County Preservations be allowed to encroach on the alleyway by 10 inches. The alleyway contains a large gas line, which feeds both the Tivoli and the neighboring Circle K gas station, as well as the majority of Spencer’s east side. Those plans would include large 6x6 steel tubes filled with concrete, as well as two rows of two-inch steel channel in order to protect the building’s exterior walls.

The council agreed that no encroachment would be permitted. Ridgway explained that plans would now call for a concrete wall to be erected along the property line and alleyway, extending the complete length of the building’s north wall. Ridgway indicated the entire rehabilitation project should be completed by June of 2013.

In additional Owen County Preservation business, the coun- cil heard from OCP President Deb Jordan with a request to utilize Cooper Commons on August 25 and August 26. Jordan said that while OCP plans to host its second annual “Five Buck Duck Race” fund-raising event, the organization also plans to organize a River Front Festival, highlighting the White River and its importance to the heritage of Spencer and Owen County. All funding raised would help support the operation of the Tivoli. Other aspects of the festival would include craft booths, live entertainment, local food vendors, and possibly a canoe/kayak race.

The council said that while the idea of a River Front Festival sounded like a positive community addition, they would first like to speak to members of the Spencer Park & Recreation Board about the use of the park. The issue will be revisited during the town council’s upcoming meeting on June 18.

In additional public issues, the council revisited discussion regarding a petition for the vacation of an alleyway connecting Fletcher and Central avenues. The council once again heard comments from petitioners Tom and Valarie Gillaspy, as well as opposed adjacent property owner Mike Hammond. Council president Cynthia Hyde indicated she was not prepared to vote on the issue, prompting the council to table the topic until its upcoming meeting on June 18.

Steve Toth, owner/operator of Cars-R-Us, later approached the council to request that a second parking spot on the west side of South Main Street be designated as a loading zone. The council and Spencer Street Department Superintendent Larry Parrish said they would like to look at the parking situation on South Main before deciding where to place two loading zone designated parking spots. If approved, the loading zone spot for Toth’s business would be placed alongside the loading zone spot for Julie- Bobs.

Regarding the Spencer Police Department, the council learned that computer issues continue for the SPD. The council indicated it would look into a possible inneroffice networking system that would include new equipment for the SPD.

In street department news, Parrish said workers have removed a tree on South Montgomery Street, installed new stop signs on West Wayne Street and are currently working to repair and clean-up donated playground equipment. He also noted that 15 new Christmas decorations have been completed.

Parrish said he is currently seeking bids for four Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility improvement projects (sidewalk curbs).

In sewer department business, Spencer Waste Water Treatment Plant Superintendent Shelley Edwards received a 3-0 vote from the council to install a new man hole on Garden Park. The council also voted to take over a portion of the sewer line on Garden Park, but later learned that the town is already responsible for the sewer line.

During routine maintenance, Edwards said, it was discovered that sheets, blankets and t-shirts from the Owen County Security Center were clogging up sewer lines.

Hearing from town attorney Richard Lorenz, the council voted 3-0 to adopt resolution 2012-2 amending the town personnel policy to reflect a new state law concerning nepotism.

The council also voted 3-0 to accept Park Place Circle, a part of the Lovers Lane Addition, as the town’s responsibility to maintain. The council voted 3-0 to allow Lorenz to proceed with legal action concerning the former William and Sally White property; he will attempt to have a sheriff ’s sale and tax sale nullified through the court system in order to seek a resolution with ownership issues.

Lastly, the council learned that a tax abatement granted in 2011 for Boston Scientific will likely result in the corporation forfeiting the first year of the abatement as new equipment purchased is on site, but will not be operational until 2013.

The Spencer Town Council will meet again on Monday, June 18, beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Spencer Municipal Building, located at 90 North West Street. An executive session, closed to the public, will get underway at 6:00 p.m.